Past Events

Regina Barreca Thursday, April 12, 2007 7:30 p.m. College Union Building, Room 260

Regina Barreca, Professor of English Literature and Feminist Theory at the University of Connecticut, is the author of numerous books, including They Used to Call Me Snow White, But I Drifted, and co-author of I'm With Stupid: One Man. One Woman. 10,000 years of Misunderstanding Between the Sexes Cleared Right Up. Barreca has written for, among others, The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Chicago Tribune.  She served as an advisor to the Library of Congress for the American Humor Project, and is the founding editor of the book series, Humor & Gender.

(Sponsored by Women's Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies, the Departments of English, French and Italian, Management, Philosophy and EPACC)

This event is free and open to the public.

Kate Clinton If I Can't Laugh, It's Not My Revolution: Notes From 25 Years of Women's Comedy Wednesday, October 25, 2006 7:30 p.m., College Union Building, Ballroom Kate Clinton has performed nationally for over 25 years, specializing in political commentary.  She has taught humor writing at the prestigious Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA, and lectures widely on humor and the uses of humor in cultural change.  Clinton is the author of Don't Get Me Started and What the L?.  She has appeared on many television programs, including Good Morning America, Nightline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, C-Span, Oxygen, and Lifetime, and writes monthly columns for The Progressive and The Advocate.

(Sponsored by Women's Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies, the Departments of English, French and Italian, Philosophy, Political Science, Theatre Arts, the Offices of College Life and Student Activities, EPACC, and Allies/SOAR)   This event is free and open to the public.

Tissa Hami Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:00 p.m. College Union Building Junction

Tissa Hami, an Iranian American, is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics, and according to her press release, no one is safe from her sharp wit (not Islamic fundamentalists, white liberals, or old-fashion racists).  Tissa, who performs in Islamic hijab, hopes her comedy will help break down stereotypes about Muslim women and foster understanding between Iranians and Americans.  She has appeared on television and radio, including a documentary for PBS.  Tissa holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in International Affairs from Columbia University.

Azizah al-Hibri Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:30 p.m. College Union Building, Room 260

Azizah al-Hibri, a law professor at the T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, is a founder of Karamah, an organization of Muslim women lawyers based in Washington, DC who are developing a "model" marriage contract that can be adjusted to meet the requirements of family law in different parts of the country.  In the United States, civil law governs divorce, but judges have taken Muslim marriage contracts into consideration, sometimes viewing them as prenuptial agreements.  Islamic law experts who advocate for better treatment of women say the documents can help them assert rights under religious law that have long been played down by men.  Advocates contend their approach is well within Islamic law, even though skeptics say the interpretation is too influenced by Western thinking.